Saturday, November 28, 2009

I trust you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving over here in America and all across the world! I so appreciate all of you dear friends.

Lately, I have been working on Christmas presents and because I can't post pictures of those at this point, I thought I would tell you all about some past projects. I made this dress last Spring to wear for events in June and July. I really did enjoy wearing it because it was so much lighter then a quilter's cotton or homespun dress. Again, I used the guidelines in TheDressmaker'sGuide making it up with a half-high lining, gathered bodice, modified bishop sleeves (on the bias), v- neckline and a basic 4- panel skirt. The bow and belt are silk taffeta and the collar is a basic batiste.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

I just wanted to stop in today and say Happy Thanksgiving! We already have a pumpkin pie, apple pie, green bean casserole, sweet potatoe casserole, pecan pie, shortbread cookies and punch made! We still have lots to do tomorrow but since that much is done it won't be too much work :) What preparations have you all made?

In other news, I have been seriously contemplating this and am quite amazed at this. It is so beautiful and would be lovely to keep warm in on those chilly mornings at events :)

I am also drinking a cup of tea with a homemade shortbread cookie. *bliss:

Basically, she made the dress with my help and a friends. The skirt has four panels and is gauged to piping and the gathered bodice. We use the instructions from Elizabeth Stewart Clark's Dressmaker's Guide I think the question was more specifically about the sleeves though.

So, using the Dressmaker's Guide on slim sleeves (I can't say exactly how those are made because of copyright reasons so just use a close fitting sleeve pattern), I drafted those up as usual as a base. Once I had those cut out I started on the rectangle that is attached to the slim sleeve and gathered at the elbow and armscye. This sleeve is not for warm weather so keep that in mind :) So cut out your rectangle. The size doesn't matter that much as long as it is wider than your slim sleeve at the elbow and armscye and as long as you would like it. I do recommend cutting these pieces on the bias as the slim sleeve will be easier to wear and the rectangle on top will drape better. Now, all I did was gather the top and bottom edge of the rectangle and lay the rectangle right sides together on top of the slim sleeve. Lay it so that the bottom of the rectangle is where you want it to be attached near the elbow. You might have to measure a bit. Now sew straight across below the gathering stitches, flip it up and baste the top of the rectangle to to the top of the slim sleeve. Turn the complete sleeve right sides together to sew the under arm seam. Hem the cuff edge and then you set it like you would any other sleeve. I hope this helps some! Let me know if you all have any more questions or if I can make this clearer :)

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Basically, Remembrance Day is a parade in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania specifically dedicated to reenactors and to remember what they do. Military and Civilian units from the area walk in the parade and many people come come out to see it :) We represent the Pinkerton Agency from the time period (aka Union spys) along with the US telegraph service. This event really represents a landmark for me because my family's basic Civil War wardrobes are finished (!!!). There are some things that we would like to add but we don't have to go to an event and freak out before hand any more because we all have the basics. It has taken a while, but we are all now at this point. YAY!

Waiting for the parade to start! You can kind of see my sister's paletote in these pictures. I helped her use the Period Impressions paletote pattern. We changed it up quite a bit and hope to share more information on that also.

Some letters were falling off of our flag so we had to sew them back on. Note to self: Bring emergency sewing kit :)

Friday, November 20, 2009

You might have guessed it but these have been busy times around here! Today seems like the official start of the Christmas season because we made or first batch(actually 6 batches) of Cranberry Chutney. The house has been smelling simply lovely as there is nothing like cinnamon and orange together :) I made another batch of granola bars a few days ago and need to make some more soon.

Tomorrow we are going to Remembrance Day in Gettysburg, PA! This is the event I have been busily preparing for as it marks the beginning of the cold weather season reenacting season for us. I am very (!!!) happy to say that all four pieces of outerwear have been completed and are hanging on hangers. My sister finished hers just a half hour ago. It needs trim as does My mother's but that will wait till the next event :) I decided to push myself and make my dad a wool vest so I still need to put buttons and buttonholes on it before I go to bed tonight but other than that I don't technically have to do anything. I could come up with nearly half a dozen garments that would have been nice to have done but I simply don't have any more time. Anyways, since we are going to Remembrance Day tomorrow and will be all decked out, I can actually show you all pictures of the finished garments. It might take me a while to post them all as it is quite a bit but I promise I will because I will have absolutely no excuse :)

Now that Sarah has posted about David's Overalls, I really would like to make a pair for my dad. They seem like such a universal garment and one wouldn't have to worry about getting a nice pair of trousers dirty. What do you think, Dad? So much to think on :) My list for garments for my dad is getting really long!

My grandparents are coming in on Tuesday for Thanksgiving so we have been also been busily preparing for that :) I hope to update on those festivites also.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

I promise! I was going to give you all an update on some sewing projects past and present (and even include pictures!!!) but I just read a post by Katie and am moved as always. Maybe tomorrow I will think about sewing but tonight I am thinking on this.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Lately I have been trying to eat the smallest amout of sugar possible. Honestly, it can be rather hard considering that nearly everything that comes in a box/bag has added sugar or artificial sugar added. Today I wanted something that would satisfy my sweet tooth but still not have any processed sugars in it. So I came up with granola! It seemed easy enough anyways :) I found the recipehere. As Katie suggested, I used peanut butter in place of the butter and added cocoa instead of chocolate chips unlike with some dried cherries. Yummy!

I learned that I really am a messy baker while doing this. I got cocoa on my shirt (Note to self: where apron even if it doesn't seem like a dirty job.) and oats and cherries all over the floor :) It did smell delicious though and don't worry! I did clean it up!

The finished product! I was going to show it on a plate cut into bars but it was so crumbly that it would have just looked like granola not granola bars!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

This is my desk on this lovely November morning! I turned on my lamp to bring in more light on this over cast day. The next three weekends are already filled on my calendar :D I have schedules and lists taped to my wall that sadly need updating along with a map of Europe from 1648. I have my inspiration portfolio set up with a few new pictures to start the day on a creative note. A Prayer by Jane Austen and an article called Twelve Pillars of Biblical Womanhood inspire me in other ways. My current major project is my father's 1860's frock coat. You can see diagrams, pictures and a drafting book from 1859 on how to do it. I think I need a translator for that one :D I also have my knitting to keep me busy when I need a break to think on these drafting techniques. I am also compiling a shopping list of supplies I need for the afore mentioned coat. Below my desk are abandoned school books that need tending to and believe it not, I need a bigger desk because I am sitting on the floor typing this since there is no more room with all those rescources up there! Oh, and you can't really see my chair because it has another coat on it along with a mid-nineteenth century wrapper (read robe) in progress.

Another project that is in the back of my mind is writing lesson plans for a sewing class that might start in January. There is a very fine line in meshing modern beginner projects and truly learning good techniques that will last a seamstress a life time. I have a home ec book from the 1930's that does the latter but not the former. Any ideas on beginner projects that also build to more complicated ones?

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Last April a very good friend of mine turned the ripe old age of 15 ;) and I thought that a quilt for the occasion would be just lovely. I think my sister, friend Hannah and I started planning in February and while we had the top finished by the birthday party in April, it took us most of the summer to quilt it. You know how schedules can be :D We finally finished it in September. Talk about a late birthday present!

In a nutshell it is a double irish chain using scraps. We did not use any sort of pattern when choosing the fabrics but just started cutting. It was more fun this way :D Those are 2 inch squares....... a whole lot of them!

As we were sewing the blocks together, we often had all three of our sewing machines going at once and it was rather loud.:D

I used the instructions on a website called Quiltville. Unfortunately, I can not link directly to the page because the site seems to be down right now. I will post more info when it is back up :) ETA: I used these instructions. It is the third quilt down on the page.

About Me

Hello and Welcome! Thank you for visiting! This is my online journal where I catalog my sewing projects, findings and inspiration. I hope you enjoy your visit and are inspired in even the smallest way. Blessings!